Was not just the speakers, was also the Vacuum tube Pre-Amp and Vacuum Tube Power Amp Build and the DAC - never powered before. The sound is very crisp - needs more base - so will play with the polyfil. That will make a huge difference. There will be no resonance given the construction and the power levels. Will report - but thus far its spectacular.
OK here are my impressions and have had a few folks about to listen to the same. One is a concert Cellist and has toured internationally and has heard some fantastic systems and many concerts.
Visually
The speakers are very beautiful in black matt with a great finish. Great look "Furniture"
Amplifier
Vacuum Tube. I built a 6L6GC vacuum tube power amplifier and separate VT Pre-Amp 12AU7 and that is driven by a DAC. 8x8 Watts . Which is more than adequate to drive these speakers.
Sound
Overall impression of everyone that has heard it is that the sound stage is very large. The sound very warm. The Base remarkably precise and no overloaded. The base is the most surprising as the response trails off quickly and nuance in the base range is most enjoyable without very overloaded. The Mid range does a great job and is remarkably clear. The rear port for the mid-range produces a very warm sound that reflects off the walls to produces a real 3D volume for the sound. "It feels like surround sound from only two speakers"
Level of Overall Happiness with the build
Absolutely stunning. Don't hesitate if you are considering building these just do it.
Thanks Kurt. It has become obvious that the modern world of music and shitty in-ear and head sets that almost everyone now uses has diminished real appreciation of music. Now we have Monday music nights when friends come around with music - have not done that since my teens..............
I am doing deep bow to you buddy.
John C. Menzies
Visually
The speakers are very beautiful in black matt with a great finish. Great look "Furniture"
Amplifier
Vacuum Tube. I built a 6L6GC vacuum tube power amplifier and separate VT Pre-Amp 12AU7 and that is driven by a DAC. 8x8 Watts . Which is more than adequate to drive these speakers.
Sound
Overall impression of everyone that has heard it is that the sound stage is very large. The sound very warm. The Base remarkably precise and no overloaded. The base is the most surprising as the response trails off quickly and nuance in the base range is most enjoyable without very overloaded. The Mid range does a great job and is remarkably clear. The rear port for the mid-range produces a very warm sound that reflects off the walls to produces a real 3D volume for the sound. "It feels like surround sound from only two speakers"
Level of Overall Happiness with the build
Absolutely stunning. Don't hesitate if you are considering building these just do it.
Thanks Kurt. It has become obvious that the modern world of music and shitty in-ear and head sets that almost everyone now uses has diminished real appreciation of music. Now we have Monday music nights when friends come around with music - have not done that since my teens..............
I am doing deep bow to you buddy.
John C. Menzies
Next project will be to build a 300B amplifier, and modify the dampening environment in the enclosure.
PS at ~~50% power the speakers are quite lively and more than adequate for listening. I was surprised that this amplifier could drive these speakers - but it does a fantastic job.
Printed circuit not point to point. The next project will be a solid state hi-fidelity Blue tooth portable speaker - 'bout the size of a boom box. Then I will do a 300B but using printed circuit boards and then after that a 300B PtP with Lindahl tranis. Much more work to do indeed - well that is the program through 2030!
Single ended 4Ω and 8x8 watts. I was concerned that this might prove inadequate to adequately drive the ~~87dB Halcyons however its not the case. Thoughts. A couple of 5-W 300B Push-Pull Monoblocks might do it better but then - I do have some modest concern for the neighbors. What goes around comes around! At my listening levels its really superb however.
I'm now powering my Halcyons with a pair of balanced ACA MinMaxes. (Switched out from 1stW balanced F4s) If I measured correctly, pumping out about 12W/ch (maybe 15W/ch). Plenty loud for my listening tastes while still being mindful of the neighbors. https://www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/aca-minmax-aca-mini-retrofit-for-aca-chassis.404975/
Experimenting with speaker placement and polyfil content - totally satisfied with these speaker - thanks Curt.